Winikin saw that he must work before he could join them at play so he began to climb the tree. What a long time it took him to reach the top. The fine cherries which were white-hearts were so ripe and juicy you may be sure he ate a good many of them. But at last he filled his pockets, descended the tree and lay down on the grass tired out with his work.
After a time the lads came to fetch him to dinner. They first led him through the fruit-chamber where they helped him to empty his pockets into a silver filigree basket.
“Put all you have brought into the basket,” said one of the lads; “for your cherries will harden into rubies in two or three days. Come now into the hall where dinner is ready.”
Winikin could scarcely eat for looking at the toys in the magical hall. When the meal was over he asked leave to play with some of them.
The boys showed him a great many playthings he had never seen before but at last one of them said, “It is time to start, Winikin, if you wish to reach home before night.”
“Won’t you give me a little wooden nag like my brother’s?” asked Winikin.
“We haven’t another in our collection but you may have this toy,” they answered giving him an agate cup and ball fastened to a delicate gold chain.
Winikin was well pleased with this toy and taking up his basket, he followed the little boys down a long, long flight of steps which brought them to the bottom of the rocks where he saw a little crack just large enough for him to creep through.
“Do you see that large brown butterfly whose wings are tipped with dark blue?” asked Goldlocks. “Follow him. If you don’t lose sight of him he will show you the way.”
So Winikin started. The butterfly kept bobbing up and down, now lighting on this flower, and now on that. In fact Winikin could very easily keep up with him. But at a turn in the road a splendid butterfly rose out of a bush. Away darted Winikin after him although the lad noticed that the brown butterfly went in the opposite direction.